I had the extreme pleasure of visiting Wakatobi twice last year. Once in July and once in November/December. I'll return every chance I get.

The reefs are 100% alive with hard and soft corals. Life, from the smallest of macro to the myriad colorful reef fish to the odd shark and turtle abounds. I've completed approximately 50 dives at Wakatobi, and it wasnt nearly enough. The average dive runs around 70 minutes.

Thank god for huge compact flash cards, as you'll fill one on every dive. The water is quite warm, and usually quite clear. There is no trash anywhere. The owners of the resort collaborate with the local islanders to keep the reef around the resort a preserve. The resort is quite serious about preserving the reefs, and prohibits touching anything. The result of this is a healthier reef than I've ever seen anywhere. This is diving 'the way it used to be', but BETTER.

The dive boats are huge, slow, well designed comfortable and purpose built. Wakatobi's dive staff is outstanding in every way. Their 'divemasters' are all extremely experienced instructors with a wealth of experience. If you want to see a particular creature, they'll find it for you. Photographers are well provided for both on land with a dedicated photo room for gear and with tables and rinse tanks on each boat. The cabins are quite nice, the food is outstanding and plentiful, and the staff is a pleasure to meet. Massage was available for $15/hour.

The flight to Bali is long, but, as it's on Singapore Air, it's pleasant. Wakatobi's charter from Bali to Wakatobi makes completing the trip easy and pleasant, and you get to meet your fellow travelers on the flight to the island.

Other than sea kayaking and hiking and the village tour, there is not much to do at Wakatobi besides diving, which was fine with me, as I'd not want anything to distract me from my water time. Rebreathers are supported with lime and O2, but not He. Nitrox is available. For a list of fish you'll see, check their site at www.wakatobi.com. I missed one or two of the fish on the list my first trip, and saw em all on my second. What you'll see in one dive will blow anyone away.

I do not think there is a bad time of year to go. Night dives, of course are later in summer and earlier in winter. Dont miss the night dives. Bring the best light you can afford, because, as pretty as the reefs look to the unaided eye, at depth, splashing them with light is dazzling. Bring a magnifier as the pygmy seahorses are almost invisible without some help. My wife, prior to my second trip there (her first trip there) said 'I'll only do one dive a day and you can do three'. She did three dives almost every day. Most places, one or two is plenty for her.

The island setting is romantic, and there is NO crime there. Children are welcome, and are very well looked after and pampered by the staff. On the way home, book a Singapore Stopover, as it's a nice place to visit, it breaks up the flight, and it's easy.

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